MoD signs ₹4,106-crore contracts – 'Varunastra' anti-submarine torpedoes for Navy, GSAT-7C satellite for IAF
16-10-2026 · English
Topics: Environment, Defence & Governance · 16 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)
News
On 15 Oct 2026 in New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence signed two contracts worth about ₹4,106 crore in all. (1) 'Varunastra' Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy – ₹1,543 crore – with Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), Hyderabad. It is an indigenous ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo that can engage enemy submarines at long range, developed by DRDO's Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL). (2) A dedicated communication satellite, GSAT-7C, for the Indian Air Force – ₹2,563 crore – with NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), Bengaluru.
Key facts
| Date / place | 15 Oct 2026, New Delhi – in presence of A. Anbarasu, Addl. Secretary & DG (Acquisition) |
| Total value | About ₹4,106 crore (2 contracts) |
| Varunastra | ₹1,543 crore – BDL, Hyderabad – for Navy; ship-launched anti-submarine heavyweight torpedo |
| Developer | NSTL (DRDO), Visakhapatnam; handed to Navy 29 June 2016 |
| GSAT-7C | ₹2,563 crore – NSIL, Bengaluru – secure communication for IAF |
| GSAT-7C approval | DAC – 23 Nov 2021 (AoN); to link software-defined radios (SDRs) |
Background
- Varunastra means the weapon of Varuna (sea god). It runs on electric (silver oxide–zinc battery) propulsion; speed over 40 knots. Then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar handed it to the Navy on 29 June 2016.
- Defence procurement: the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is chaired by the Defence Minister and grants Acceptance of Necessity (AoN). Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 gives top priority to 'Buy (Indian-IDDM)' (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured).
- Companies: BDL – Defence Ministry PSU, Hyderabad; makes missiles and torpedoes. NSIL – ISRO's commercial arm under the Department of Space (2019), Bengaluru.
- Military satellites: GSAT-7 'Rukmini' (2013) – for the Navy; GSAT-7A (2018, GSLV-F11) – for the IAF. GSAT-7C continues the series.
Tamil Nadu link: the 'Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor' has 5 nodes – Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli. The Navy's anti-submarine P-8I aircraft are based at INS Rajali, Arakkonam.
Source: Sunday Guardian, Upstox, Mumbai Tribune, 15 Oct 2026; Aviation Defence Universe (2016); Wikipedia (GSAT-7C)
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